MINER FAMILY RETURN 2020-2021
STRENGTH IN FAMILY Bishop Manogue Catholic High School’s mission is to educate students through Faith, Knowledge, Leadership, and Compassion. We embrace these pillars to help our students grow and be ready for a world and a future we do not know. We teach them to be leaders of the known and unknown. We teach them strength. We are as prepared for the unknown world we are living in now as any institution can be. We are innovative and flexible students, and faculty. We are resilient and determined. We may not know what August and September will look like, but we do know who we are and what we are called to do, and we are not afraid to embrace the challenge ahead of us. We will continue to educate our students in Faith, Knowledge, Leadership, and Compassion. We will continue to prepare students to be successful in a four-year college environment. And we will continue to be the Manogue Family.
PRINCIPAL'S INTRODUCTION I began teaching full-time High School Spanish in 2002. Never, in my most futuristic surmisings, did I suppose we would be facing a worldwide pandemic that closed school buildings and forced education professionals everywhere to reimagine and redesign the classroom to a remote and individual learning space. Welcome, 2020. Whether we like it or not, believe in it or not, want to do it or not - it is all irrelevant. The fact is that this is the new reality, and for the future of our school and our students we will find a way to continue to be Bishop Manogue in this strange new world. Bishop Manogue believes in the health and well-being of every student. We work for them to grow academically, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally during their four years. We want them back on campus, period. Campus is where students grow the most and where they thrive. They interact, advance from their own social experiences, gain independence, foster relationships, face challenges, and celebrate successes in community. We do this together...one family...and we do not underestimate the importance of community. We will work as creatively as we can to respect Government and Diocesan directives and keep students on campus. As you read the Miner Family Return plan, please know our primary objective is to fully return to the building. We are prepared for any situation we are mandated to enter; our goal is to be on campus together. God Bless you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you in August.
Brianne M. Thoreson PRINCIPAL
ACADEMIC APPROACH It is not a surprise to anyone that there are three possible scenarios for education in the 2020-2021 school year, and due to county and state requirements, we may utilize one or all of them at some point. Our students will either learn in the building, learn in a Dual Environment (both virtual and on-campus), or learn in a fully Virtual Environment. Schools across the nation are focusing on these three plans. What distinguishes each institution, as it always has, is the execution of the plans. The following outline contains the details for how Bishop Manogue will proceed with the three possible education scenarios for the 2020-2021 academic year. These plans are a broad overview; we continue to adjust and flex as new requirements and mandates are issued. #minerfamilyreturn #thedifferenceisinthedetails
SCENARIO 1
ACADEMIC APPROACH
PRIORITY 1:
FULL RETURN TO THE BUILDING HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME IN PLACE. This could mean MANY things. We will not know exactly what this is until July 23. We are prepared with a plan if we have to: Take every student’s temperature as they enter Trace contact history Allow only certain numbers of students to enter through certain doors Have a hallway passing plan Isolate exposed or exhibiting symptom students In this option, all students return for in-person instruction every day Activities and athletics resume as allowed.
SCENARIO 2
ACADEMIC APPROACH
PRIORITY 2:
SOCIALLY DISTANT RETURN TO THE BUILDING Students will have an alternating schedule by last name so we have 50% occupancy every day. They will alternate an "A" and "B" week schedule (see the Schedule page for details), learning in the classroom three days a week and at home two days/ learning in the classroom two days and at home three days. On the at-home days, we have developed a system that still allows students to be “in class.” There will not be any interruption to learning and students will be in class and community every day. (See the Dual Environment Learning page.) In this option, activities and athletics resume as allowed.
SCENARIO 3
ACADEMIC APPROACH
PRIORITY 3:
FULLY VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT We will continue to improve our virtual learning process for: Families who desire a full-time virtual option (see the Family Choice section) Possible future government-mandated building closures A full education experience for students who are issued “stay at home” orders due to any virus exposure or outbreak In this option, activities and athletics will be suspended.
FAMILY CHOICE As stated above, the well-being of our students and their families is paramount for us. Survey results from June regarding returning to school indicate that 88.2% of those surveyed feel “Extremely Comfortable” or “Very Comfortable” with a return to campus. However, of those same “Extremely Comfortable” or “Very Comfortable” respondents, there was a wide variety of desires for how a return to campus will look and an even greater variety of the reasons behind those desires. Respondents expressed they would feel more comfortable if there was a vaccine, only if their student did not have to wear a mask, only if students would be socially distant, if there were on-site testing, and many other items. In addition to these concerns, a small number of our families indicated they were not comfortable with a return to campus. Reasons varied and are all very personal. Whether you desire a return to campus or you wish to remain virtual, we respect you and wish for you to remain with us. We do not want to lose any of our Manogue family. For this reason, we have determined that each family may individually select the Academic Approach that fits them best for 2020-2021.
FAMILIES MAY CHOOSE TO RETURN TO THE BUILDING FOR INSTRUCTION OR TO REMAIN FULLY VIRTUAL FOR INSTRUCTION. IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN FULLY VIRTUAL, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REQUEST OUR FULL-TIME VIRTUAL PROGRAM FOR YOUR STUDENT.
#customizedminerfamilyreturn
DUAL ENVIRONMENT LEARNING We have developed a synchronous instruction platform, allowing students to attend class both in person and virtually. Using Google Meet and the newly purchased microphones and webcams, teachers will be able to teach class to students in class and at home. Students from both places can see the teacher, see the Digital Board, see the class, and communicate live with the class and teacher. No learning will be lost due to stay at home orders or the suspicion of illness, which will require us to send a student home. One of the largest time challenges students face is catching up after an absence. With the precautions taken during COVID, absence numbers are going to skyrocket and even students who are healthy but may have the possibility of exposure will be home. Synchronous instruction will allow them to be home and be in class.
#keepingtheminerfamily
DUAL ENVIRONMENT LEARNING The dual or “synchronous” environment is also our solution for families who choose to remain fully virtual. Whatever the reason, we respect what our families believe they need, and we do not want to lose our students. These are unprecedented times, and we are developing unprecedented solutions to maintain our Manogue family. Finally, this will also be our socially distant plan. If we have to return to the building at 50% capacity, we will use the dual environment to provide instruction to the students who are required to be home on specific days. Our learning and our community with one another will never stop. This is the most important thing we can do for our students. Bishop Manogue students will not be sent home with a packet to learn in isolation.
#keepingtheminerfamily
SCHEDULING
SCHEDULING DAILY SCHEDULE 2020-2021
"A" WEEK MONDAY - PERIODS 1-4 TUESDAY - PERIODS 5-8 WEDNESDAY - PERIODS 1-4 THURSDAY - PERIODS 5-8 & MINER BLOCK/AP LABS FRIDAY - PERIODS 1-4 & MINER BLOCK/PD/AP LABS
"B" WEEK MONDAY - PERIODS 5-8 TUESDAY - PERIODS 1-4 WEDNESDAY - PERIODS 5-8 THURSDAY - PERIODS 1-4 & MINER BLOCK/AP LABS FRIDAY - PERIODS 5-8 & MINER BLOCK/AP LABS
SCHEDULING
SCHEDULING DAILY SCHEDULE 2020-2021
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Release times have changed in order to accommodate students learning virtually (by social distancing requirement from the government or health district) returning to school activities and practice as allowable in the afternoon. All students may seek help and/or assistance during Miner Block. We ask students to make an appointment with the teacher they wish to see beforehand so we may account for the number of people in the building if we are required to do so.
SCHEDULING
SCHEDULING TWO WEEK SAMPLE SCHEDULE A full semester schedule will be outlined in August.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS Bishop Manogue has consistently been a leader in student safety. We are honored that you have chosen us for your child’s education and we know you are entrusting us with much more than their knowledge when they enter the building each day. Below are the details of how we will expand our already significant safety protocols to include requirements for the COVID-19 pandemic. These requirements are fluid; we expect one or all of them to change throughout the school year and we will communicate with you as efficiently as we are able.
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH In order for our full student body to return to the building (as we plan to do), masks and face shields will be required for all students, faculty, staff and anyone who wishes to enter the building at all times. With the full student body returning, accommodating and maintaining 6 feet of social distance at all times will be challenging. This is why both masks and face shields are required while students are in the classroom. When students are not in the classroom, they will only be required to wear a mask.
#healthyMiners
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS AND CLEANING Plexiglass has been installed in several offices and close contact areas. More hand sanitizing stations have been added throughout the building and each classroom will have hand sanitizer to use upon entry. The school has been dry-fogged, a cleaning process that kills all germs and bacteria when they touch any surface for a period of 90 days. We have scheduled to have the dry-fogging completed every 90 days of the school year. Students will not need to wipe their desks and chairs each time they sit down, but they are welcome to do so if it makes them feel more comfortable. Regular daily cleaning protocols have increased and high touch areas will be sanitized throughout the day, even with the fogging. Shared spaces will not be utilized. Examples of this include cell phone caddies, girls and boys locker rooms, and drinking fountains (these have been disabled). We will determine if student individual lockers are in use when a final decision is made about capacity and hallway passing. We expect that information in late July or early August. We encourage each student to have a reusable water bottle to fill at our approved filling stations. Air filters throughout the building are being changed and checked frequently.
#healthyMiners
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS BREAK AND LUNCH Break and Lunch will be socially distant and students will have an opportunity to go outside to supervised areas in various campus locations to get fresh air. All food service has been changed to a pre-packaged, grab and go model. As always, students are welcome to bring their own lunch. Students should be prepared to eat at their desk at any point in the year; we are going to work our hardest to have common areas open and to continue outdoor seating, but we cannot guarantee what will be permissible one day to the next.
BUILDING ENTRY As we prepare for a full return, students will enter the building normally. Their mask will need to be in place once they enter the building or if they are walking in groups that are not socially distant. Parents and/or students will be required to verify a student’s temperature and complete a health form (electronic) prior to school each day. Access to the form and directions for use will be sent in early August. During the first week of school, students will be educated on Bishop Manogue’s socially distant entry plan. If this is a requirement at any point in the year (or temperature checks by the school become a requirement), students will be familiar with how and where to enter the building.
#healthyMiners
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS STUDENTS WHO ARE ILL The school has a designated and isolated space (with supervision) for students who feel ill or present with symptoms during the day.
CAMPUS VISITORS At this time, we will not allow visitors on campus except to come to the main office for drop-off or emergency purposes. All visitors must be masked. Parent-teacher conferences and other parent/faculty/staff meetings will be conducted virtually.
COVID-19 EXPOSURE OR POSITIVE TEST We will work in cooperation with the health district and follow all required protocols should we have a positive test for one of our community members. The health form families complete each day and our procedure for contact tracing will assist us in making all proper notifications of exposure.
#healthyMiners
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS Bishop Manogue is committed to maintaining our family in this extreme time. The school is currently reimagining how events that make us special - retreats, service, spirit rallies, Mass, spirit weeks - and athletics and extracurriculars can happen within provided guidelines. We believe these events and extracurriculars are equal in importance to the education we provide; students need community, they need spirit, and they need a healthy social and physical environment to continue their personal growth.
SPIRIT Student Council is the heart of spirit at Bishop Manogue. For the first month of school, Student Council members will be at school every day in highly visible shirts to support, help, and encourage all students as we begin the new year. Activities for Welcome Back Week and Homecoming are being planned; they may look different than they traditionally have, but will maintain the spirit and energy that is Bishop Manogue. Make sure you are following @manoguespirit on Instagram for updates on all activities, spirit days, and the opportunity to vote for your favorite events.
#MinerPride
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS EXTRACURRICULARS Club and student organization moderators will be met with after the first two weeks of school. As much as the school is able, we will facilitate organizations like Speech and Debate, Academic Team, Sodality, Squires, National Honor Society, and many others remaining active and in person. Each club, its function, and its exposure risk will be evaluated and provided direction from the Assistant Principal of Student Affairs.
ATHLETICS Bishop Manogue is a member of the NIAA. We will continue to respect the direction and regulation set forth by the NIAA and do our best to provide whatever athletic opportunities we are allowed. Ultimately, we will make our own athletic decisions in the best interest of our community.
#MinerPride
THANK YOU It seems insufficient an expression for the gratitude I feel for our parents, our teachers, our administration, our Board, but most of all for our students. This has been an incomprehensible challenge for us all, but you have responded with ingenuity, spirit, patience, and understanding. Thank you for embodying the spirit and mission of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. This year will require that same spirit as we embrace the unknown. Things may change week to week or month to month, but what will not change is our commitment to our Bishop Manogue family. This year will be a different year, and we will do all we can to make sure that this year matters and has the hallmarks of faith, knowledge, leadership, and community that makes our school truly unique. Thank you for taking the time to read this plan, please feel free to reach out with any questions, and as always please keep our school and all that are a part of it in your daily prayers. God bless you all, Matthew J Schambari BMCHS President